Bricks, Cement and Roofing Tiles

HC Deb 28 July 1953 vol 518 cc118-20W

67. Sir I. Fraser

asked the Minister of Works whether he will make a statement on current production of bricks, cement and roofing tiles; and how far supplies in the coming months will be adequate to maintain the present high rate of building.

Sir D. Eccles

The current rate of production of bricks, cement and roofing tiles as compared with 1951 shows increases as follows:

				per cent.
Bricks	…	…	…	19
Cement	…	…	…	13
Roofing tiles	…	…	…	42

We are now at the height of the building season and shortages of these materials are marginal. Further increases in the supply of all three are expected so that we can look forward to an expansion in the total volume of new building.

74. Mr. Slater

asked the Minister of Works the position of the supply of bricks and cement in the North-East; and how many local authorities and private contractors have informed his regional officers that they have been held up with their schemes during the last two months because of the shortage of supply.

Sir D. Eccles

The supply of bricks and cement in the North-East is at present satisfactory. There have been no complaints to my regional officers from local authorities or private contractors of delays on sites during the past two months.

75. Mr. Slater

asked the Minister of Works what increased storage space has been provided for the storage of cement in the North-East; and if he is satisfied that the present storage space will hold an adequate supply to keep the building industry going during the winter, if the normal routes of supply should be affected again this year due to bad weather.

Sir D. Eccles

There have been small additions to the storage space in merchants' depots, at the works of concrete product manufacturers and at builders' premises. The storage facilities at the usual discharging ports and at the one cement works in the North-East are considered to be adequate.

78. Mr. Snow

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware of the shortage of bricks in the Rugeley, Staffordshire, district; and what steps he is taking to provide supplies, in view of the delay which is taking place in completing houses under construction for the Rugeley Urban District Council.

Sir D. Eccles

No. I am not aware that in the U.D.C. area concerned the completion of houses is being held up by shortages of bricks.

79. Mr. Willey

asked the Minister of Works what steps he is taking to improve the supplies of bricks and cement in the North-East.

Sir D. Eccles

I have had conversations with brickmakers at both the local and national levels, and I maintain close touch with the cement industry. Supplies to the North-East have increased and I consider they will be adequate to maintain the rate of building.